I rad somewhere, on here or another board, something that said you can do this by soaking the part or parts, in either boiling water, or Pine-Sol. Anyone familiar with this method? If so, how long do you soak them for? How does everyone else remove dried glue? I'm talking about the "solvent" type, for plastic.
I have not had to remove glue from plastic yet, only wood. (Also, I have never heard of how to re-furbish plastic once it has been melted with a solvent.) A "solvent" glue actually melts the parent plastic piece as well as the part you are attempting to add on. The glue sometimes contains some amount of a "filler" plastic that is supposed to compensate for the shrinkage of the parent plastic surface, which helps "fill-in" any cracks, and makes a pleasing fillet around the seam. Once applied, solvents make both pieces all one piece, so there is no "glue" to remove. Solvent type "Glues" containing a bit of plastic in solution, are the "Crack Filling" ones, but in fact also make all the pieces into one solid part. There are many "glues" now days, some of which will "stick" on a plastic surface (not very good), like some airplane glues do, that do not actually melt into the plastic. If those can be removed by heating in water with a few drops of detergent, then do it only up to 175 degrees F, but no more! Some plastics begin to soften at 185 and could be distorted when cooled! My best advice is to ask your question on the TrainBoard.com because those guys are reeeely smart, and someone there can answer how it is done. I haven't made a mistake since 1939, so I just can't help you. Sorry!
I work alot with plastic an as Watash has said, I don't know of any ways possible to remove a "solvent" type glue from plastic as it melts the surface to a point of BOTH surfaces of the 2 parts being attached, All I can say is to roughen the surface you want to get rid of the glue, or sand off any glue with a finer type sand paper wet, an then back fill... like a body filler on a car, only a surfacer for plastic. Then sand it smoth, otherwise, I know of no way to remove solvent type glue! As said, it chemically bonds the 2 plastic surfaces. However the pine-sol comment, thats for removing paint! NOT glue!
